1

KINGS
 AUTHORSHIP AND DATE
O The 2 books of 1 and 2 kings were originally one
book, and the author is unknown. It is generally
agreed commentators that the content of 1 and 2 kings
was compiled before the captivity of Judah, with the
final editing taking place in the captivity period. Some
believe that the author was a Jewish captive living in
Babylon, whereas other point to the prophet Jeremiah
as the most likely candidate. In their case, the date of
writing would be about 600-575 B.C
 PURPOSE
O First kings was written to continue the story
of the united monarchy under David’s son
Solomon. It was also written to record the
division of the kingdom into North and
South. The book is not just a view of
historical events but commentary on the
great spiritual issues that brought about
those events.
 BASIC OUTLINE
1.The reign of Solomon over the United
Kingdom (chaps 1-11)
2.The early days of the divided Kingdom
(chaps.12-22)
 IMPORTANT DATA
1. Key word: Division
2. Key Chapter:12-The dividing of the kingdom
3. Key Verses: 8:22-26; 12-16
4. Key Character: Solomon, rehoboam, jeroboam, ahab,
jezebel, elijah, asa, and jehoshaphat
5. Meaning of “1 kings”: The first of two books named
after the kings of Israel and Judah from Solomon to
the Babylonian captivity whose histories they record
6. Geography of 1 kings: The land of Judah and Israel
 SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
OThe book begins with Solomon’s
coming to the throne and ruling all
of Israel, and it ends with
Jehoshaphat’s reigning in Judah and
Ahaziah’s ruling in Israel. This
would, therefore, cover a period of
about 125 years
 SUMMARY
THE REIGN OF SOLOMON OVER THE
UNITED KINGDOM (CHAPS. 1–11)

SOLOMON’S ACCESSION TO THE THRONE

(1:1–2:11)
As David neared the age of seventy (2 Sam. 5:4)
and was weak and infirm, it became clear to all in
Israel that a new king would be coming to the
throne. David had evidently made a fundamental
error by not clearly and publicly declaring which
son would be his successor.
Privately, David had promised Bathsheba that her son
Solomon would be the next king (1:16–17). But in the
absence of a clear, public statement, David’s fourth son
Adonijah (probably David’s oldest living son) attempted to
take the throne for himself (1:5, 18–19).

This attempt was thwarted when David ordered Nathan the

prophet, Zadok the priest, and other key individuals to
publicly anoint and proclaim Solomon as king (1:32–40).
Considering the potential for chaos and unrest, the transition
of the throne to Solomon went fairly smoothly. After giving
the new king some good advice, Israel’s greatest king,
David, died (2:1–11).
SOLOMON’S ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
KINGDOM (2:12–5:18)
O After removing several of his adversaries (2:12–46),
Solomon put together a highly organized empire. He
made numerous political alliances, engaged in many
building projects, fortified the defenses of Israel, and
developed a complex bureaucracy. Solomon’s wisdom
(given him by God, 3:4–12) became well-known
throughout the region (4:29– 34).
O David’s military victories, Solomon’s wisdom, and God’s
obvious favor made it possible for all Israel to live in
peace and prosperity (4:25).
SOLOMON’S BUILDING PROGRAM
(6:1–10:29)
David had desired to build a house for God, but it
was his son Solomon who actually built the
Temple in Jerusalem. It took about seven years to
build this multimillion-dollar structure. With its
abundance of gold, silver, marble, and fine woods,
the Temple was one of the wonders of the world.
The high point in Israel’s history in the Old
Testament was perhaps the dedication of this
Temple.
Never again do we find the nation, as a whole,
living in such peace and prosperity and
apparently so completely devoted to the Lord.
Both king and people were united in obedience
to the law of God. Solomon’s marvelous prayer
on that great day of dedication gives a fitting
illustration of those prosperous days in Israel (cf.
8:1, 22–25, 54–56)
SOLOMON’S SPIRITUAL FAILURE AND END
AS ISRAEL’S KING (11:1–43)
Two Scriptures mentioned previously have great import in
the following events. In 1 Samuel 8, God had warned Israel
that heavy taxation would accompany the monarchy. In
order to maintain his huge government, luxurious lifestyle,
and numerous building projects, Solomon turned more and
more to the taxation of his people. This tax burden caused
deep unrest and became terribly oppressive (as the cries of
the people later on indicate, 12:4). In Deuteronomy 17, God
had warned kings not to multiply horses, silver, and wives.
The horse was the basis of military might, but God wanted
Israel to trust Him. Silver, and all other forms of wealth,
would breed independence from God.
 Many wives (often part of treaties made with
foreign kings) would bring their idols with them
and in the process turn the king’s devotion away
from the Lord. Solomon flagrantly violated all
three of these prohibitions (cf. 1 Kings 10:26; 2
Chron. 9:25; 1 Kings 10:14, 27; 11:1–5). In his
glory years Solomon did not act wisely, failing to
remember that even kings are subject to the
“constitution.” He antagonized his subjects and
offended the Holy One of Israel.
 His devotion to the many idols of his wives
brought a word of judgment from God (11:11–13).
As a result of his sin, the kingdom would be
divided. Solomon’s son would be king over but two
tribes. Only the existence of the Davidic Covenant
kept Solomon’s line from being cut off. The rest of
Solomon’s life is passed over quickly in the text of
Scripture. The author of 1 Kings now introduces
Jeroboam, who will become a central figure in the
monarchy period. Jeroboam, a servant of Solomon,
will become the first king of the Northern Kingdom
(11:26–31).
THE EARLY DAYS OF THE DIVIDED
KINGDOM (CHAPS. 12–22)
 THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM
(12:1–20)
Solomon did not make David’s error of failing to
unmistakably set apart his successor. His son Rehoboam was
made king. After Solomon’s death, Rehoboam went to
Shechem in north central Israel to be formally crowned as
the fourth king of the united kingdom. However, it was at
that time that the people demanded relief from the heavy
taxation of Solomon as a prerequisite for their uniting under
the kingship of Rehoboam (12:1–4). Rehoboam foolishly
refused this legitimate request with the result that the
northern tribes refused to acknowledge Rehoboam as king
(12:13–16). Instead they made Jeroboam of Ephraim their
king (12:20).
 REHOBOAM OF JUDAH AND
JEROBOAM OF ISRAEL (12:21–14:31)
O Although political division had taken place, the two nations
were still united religiously. Jerusalem, in the south, was still
the center of Israel’s worship and religious activity. Jeroboam
reasoned that he would not be able to maintain the political
division while religious unity existed (12:26–27). Therefore,
he chose to alter the religion of the North just enough to
deprive Jerusalem of its role as the only center of a unified
worship of the Lord. Jeroboam made two golden calves (bulls)
and placed one in the northern part of his kingdom at Dan, and
the other in the southern part of his kingdom at Bethel.
Jeroboam was not introducing new gods. Rather, he was
claiming that these calves were visible representations of the
Lord who “brought them up from the land of Egypt” (12:28).
O He was not saying that the Lord was the calf. The calf, or bull,
was revered in ancient times as a symbol of great strength. And,
too, Jeroboam had history on his side. He could point to Israel’s
first high priest, Aaron, who once made a calf of gold for
worship. Jeroboam also changed the religious calendar and the
priesthood. Jeroboam was introducing his own version of the
worship of the Lord. Jeroboam’s polluted religious system was
the push that started the Northern Kingdom downhill to
corruption and captivity. Gross forms of paganism entered easily
once true worship of the Lord was abandoned. More than twenty
times the Scriptures call Jeroboam the man “who made Israel
sin.” When the golden calves were set up and accepted by the
Northern Kingdom, that kingdom took a notable step downward.
The condition of the Northern Kingdom worsened rapidly when
many godly people fled the North and went to live in the South
in order to avoid the rampant idolatry (cf. 2 Chron. 11:14–17).
 KINGS OF JUDAH IN 1 KINGS
(15:1–24; 22:41–50)
Abijam -He reigned for just three years. He was not
totally devoted to the Lord.

Asa -He was a godly king who ruled for forty-one

years. He destroyed the places of idolatry in the
Southern Kingdom.

Jehoshaphat -He was a good king who obeyed the

Lord. He reigned for twenty-five years and made
peace with the North.
 KINGS OF ISRAEL IN 1 KINGS
(15:25–22:40, 51–53)
Nadab- He was evil like his father, Jeroboam. He was on the
throne for just two years.

Baasha -He was a sinful king who ruled twenty-four years after
completely destroying everyone in the family of Nadab.

Elah -He continued the sins and the policies of Baasha, his
father, during his two years on the throne.

Zimri -He was a powerful general in the army who assassinated

Elah and all of his family. He ruled for only seven days.
 Omri, He was another
leader in the army who came to power after killing
Zimri. He was forced to rule alongside another
claimant to the throne, Tibni. For three years these
two ruled as kings in the North, until Omri finally
won out. Omri made some effective long-range plans
for Israel, such as moving Israel’s capital to Samaria
and strengthening Israel through alliances. One such
alliance brought the evil Jezebel to Israel.